[Toddsterpatriot]

Purchasing things does not increase your standard of living. At least not in the long term.

Really? You have a very confused understanding of the term.

Your standard of living goes up when your wealth is increasing.

And when you are able to use your "wealth" to purchase what you'd like, from other countries even, your standard of living improves.

[ClearCase_guy]

You are asserting that our sending money overseas makes us richer and increases our standard of living?

[CodeToad]

“And when you are able to use your “wealth” to purchase what you’d like, from other countries even, your standard of living improves. “

Unless your country’s currency takes a dive due to imbalances of trade.